06. GIOVANNI'S POV.

“ But the redhead though.. just admit it, you are into her.”Juan's voice cut through the silence like a pebble hitting a grin.

It was evening, we were in my car heading home. I was tired and this police guy is talking about the girl I just met and we barely know each other that much.

“You are so annoying, you know that?” I stared at him.

“ Annoying with my smartness or beauty?” He said with a big smile.

“ Aargh,please just be-”

Before I could finish, I noticed a crowd gathered on the side of the street. Flames clawed through the window of the burning house.

 My chest tightened when I saw a silhouette, a woman was trapped inside. Outside the house I saw a familiar car and I knew whose it was.

“Stop the car….”

 The driver hit the brakes. I got out of the car and Juan did the same.

“Hey, wait Gio.. ” Juan followed behind.

The main entrance was swallowed by fire, the air thick with smoke and panic. People were shouting, trying to throw water, but the flames were too wild. My eyes found a window not yet touched by fire. It was shut tight. I looked around and saw a wooden stool, Juan shook his head.

“ No man, you are not doing th-” 

 Too late. I smashed the glass with one hard swing.

“You stay out here and wait for me.” I couldn't wait for him to respond when I jumped inside. 

Broken shards tore into my arm, but I didn’t care. The smoke burned my lungs, and the heat felt alive,angry and suffocating. I forced myself down a narrow corridor, kicking open doors until I found the right one. 

It was Locked. From the outside.

“ What the hell-”

I blasted it open with all my strength, the door gave in and that's when I saw her down ,on the floor her hair scattered like spilled fire and her eyes closed. 

Motionless.

“ Shit.”

I rushed to her, gathering her in my arms. Her fingers gripped my shirt tight, even unconscious, as if her body refused to let go. I didn’t waste another second. We got out before the ceiling could collapse. 

…………….

Hours later, we were home. Doctors came and went. Isabelle had passed out from shock, but they said she’d be fine. Now it was quiet, just the two of us.

She looked so peaceful lying there, breathing softly, her lashes brushing against her cheeks. I could’ve watched her for hours. She looked unreal, like someone carved her from calmness itself.

I didn't realize she was in her bath robe, so I quickly pushed the sheet over to her.she started mumbling words in her sleep, tears sliding down her temples. 

Then she jolted awake, drenched in sweat. I jumped, losing my balance and nearly hitting the floor.

“What the ….” I said while helping myself up.

“I’m so sorry.” she said, trying to stand and help me up.

“It’s okay,” I said quickly, steadying her before she could push herself too hard.

There was silence between us until I broke it,

“ It was…just a dream.” 

“ Yeah.” She murmured, then looked at my shoulder. “Thank you for saving me.”

Before I could respond, a sharp pain shot through my shoulder. I’d reopened the wound from the glass and now it was bleeding.

I went to the bathroom to help myself. I grabbed the first-aid kit in my top shelf and-

“ I can help with that.”

Her voice startled me. I turned, and she was already opening the kit, her movements quiet but confident.

“ I am very good at giving first aid.” She said softly, motioning me to sit.

I obeyed. She knelt in front of me, the room faintly smelling of antiseptic and something warm, her perfume, maybe. She was petite, but her presence filled the space.

“ Beautiful tattoo.” She said while cleaning the cut.

“ Thanks.” I said nonchalantly.

“ Why did you help me? And how did you know I was there?”

I went quiet for some minutes and answered 

“ I don't know.”

Honestly I didn't know why I helped her, I wasn't the type to throw myself into chaos for anyone. But sometjing about her stripped away my logic.

What was happening to me? I didn't really like how things turned when she's around or involved but I couldn't help myself.

When she reached for the bandage again, I stood. “I can take it from here.”

Her hands froze mid-air. “Did I do something wrong?”

I didn’t answer. I just left

Later that night, she’d fallen asleep again, her breathing steady. I sat by the desk, buried in work, until my phone buzzed.

“ Five missed calls?”

It was Juan, He was probably calling about the fire investigation.

Then my phone rang and for a second my heart dropped. It was the unknown number that called me the other day. I picked it up this time. 

“Hello,” I answered.

Silence.

“Who is this?” My tone sharpened.

Click, the line went dead.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the screen, when Isabelle’s coughing pulled me back

“ Hey, you okay?” 

“I”, 

cough.

“am fin-” she tried to speak through the coughs.

I wanted to reach for her, hold her, but stopped myself. That would’ve been weird right? Then,

THUD.

I heard a heavy sound outside the window, I froze slowly, I walked over and looked out.

 someone with full black cloth and a mask outside the window. He stood there not moving, looking at me for some minute. Then he lifted his phone. 

My phone rang and that's when I knew he was the guy who kept calling me the other day.

I picked up,he didn't answer me, he just stared at me for a few minutes and left.

Who was that? What's going on?

“ Everything okay?” Isabelle’s voice came from behind me.

I turned ,she looked pale and weak.

“Yeah.” I lied. “Have some rest, I'll be in my room.”

I left before she could ask anything else. My head was spinning, but one thing was clear,

Nothing about tonight was okay.